Homer Helps Bums Past Crushers

June 17, 2009 - Frontier League (FL)
Traverse City Beach Bums News Release


AVON, Ohio - The Traverse City Beach Bums overcame a 4-1 deficit to top the Lake Erie Crushers 7-4 and take the series at All Pro Freight Stadium on Wednesday night.

Following a 20 minute weather delay, the Beach Bums picked up a two-out hit to open a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. James Guerrero walked and stole second. With two outs he came in to score on a ground rule double to center by John Alonso.

The Crushers came back in the bottom of the first and scored three runs off of Beach Bums starter Kevin Reese. Jodam Rivera led off the game with his first homer, knocking a 1-2 pitch off the scoreboard in right. Drew Saylor followed with a single, moving to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Luke Hetherington doubled down the right field line to put Lake Erie ahead. He would score two batters later on a single by Tim Binkoski.

Lake Erie added to the lead in the third inning when Tim Binkoski homered. Binkoski drove a 2-0 pitch from Kevin Reese over the wall in right for his first homer of the season. The Beach Bums began to rally in the top of the fourth inning, plating two runs to get within 4-3. Kyle Maunus led off the inning with his first homer of the season, going deep over the wall in left on a 1-2 pitch from Lake Erie starter Brent Lysander. Mike Victor was hit by a pitch and Brad Miller reached on an error. Following consecutive strikeouts, Mike Epping singled in to center field on a 3-2 offering to score Mike Victor. Brad Miller was thrown out attempting to score on the play to close the inning.

Traverse City tied the contest in the fifth when John Alonso led off with a homer over the wall in center on a 1-1 pitch. Lake Erie brought in Cristobal Mata in place of starter Brent Lysander in the sixth and Traverse City scored a pair of runs to take a 6-4 edge. Brad Miller led off the inning with a single and scored when Corey Whiting doubled into left center. Whiting was sacrificed to third and scored on a fielder's choice. The Beach Bums grabbed a much needed insurance run in the ninth when Brad Miller connected on a ground rule double that was initially ruled as a three-run homer. The double scored Kyle Maunus, who had started the two-out rally with a single, from second.

Jeff Williams recorded the save, his sixth of the season. It didn't come easy as Williams entered with a two-run lead and the tying runs in scoring position in the bottom of the eighth. When an error loaded the bases, Williams was able to force Wayne Bond into an inning ending double play and threw a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts to close the door on his 18th straight save. Kevin Reese worked five innings, overcoming a sluggish start to steal his third win of the season. He struck out a career high five.

The Beach Bums tallied a season high 14 hits in the game. Corey Whiting, John Alonso, Kyle Maunus, Mike Victor, and Brad Miller each had a two-hit performance.

The Beach Bums will travel to Pennsylvania to meet the Washington Wild Things at CONSOL Energy Park tomorrow night in the opener of a three-game series that begins at 7:05pm. LHP Shawn Joy (0-0, 4.15) will make his second start for Traverse City while Washington puts Brian McCullough (0-0, 3.86) on the hill for his second start. The contest can be heard live on The Fox FM.



Frontier League Stories from June 17, 2009


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